Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 2.djvu/365

 severe censure on OF Kma. (309 of importaait information. In no single particular was ^'^^ •King's action approved of. Wtile admitting that the conduct of the soldiers was ^^ highly reprehensible," and "certainly mutinous/', the Court was of opinion that they ought to have been absolved from blame by reason of the provocation and insult they had received. In fact, it so far condoned their crime as to express its belief that they had been forced to mutiny by the *' licentious behaviour " of the convicts. The extreme measure of dis- arming the detachment was declared to have been quite unnecessary. The Court animadverted in the most severe a terms upon the policy of King in regard to the disputes SiS! between the soldiers and convicts, and expressed its belief that the general conduct of the soldiers on the island would not have discredited any regiment in his Majesty's service. The finding of the Court was sent to King by Grose on arose the 25th February, 1794, with a very angry and intemper- toding. ately-worded despatch, and a General Order regulating the procedure to be observed in subsequent disputes between the soldiers and convicts.* . In the despatch Grose expressed his astonishment and mortification at what he termed King's " ill-judged and unwarrantable proceedings." His opinions coincided in every point with those of the Court, and in giving expression to them he made no effort to conceal his anger and resent- ment beneatii the courteous forms of official correspondence. fie declared that the manner in which the convicts had been He npbnuds allowed by King to act towards the-soldiers was "sufficient "^' to provoke the most obedient to out;rage," and directed him to immediately disband the militia he had formed, and to send i^eir arma to -Sydney. Lieutenant To wnson was sent to take command of the detachment, and King was referred to him for all instructions conoeming the control of the military. '*^Histonfifki:B^cbrd8,y(>l.ii, p. liBOi